Teryl @ Work

Resignation – avoid burning those bridges It has been a great pleasure working with a colleague like you. Now, you are off to your next big challenge! Good luck and farewell! Isn’t that what we all want to hear when we leave?  We were appreciated and we will be missed. The need for all parties to maintain professional conduct in the event of resignation is critical, particularly now when we are working within an unsettled socio-economic climate. Employees should avoid damaging relationships, and employers need to adopt a neutral approach and ensure that there are policies and processes that enable the separation to be objectively handled.  For example: ·        A formal resignation letter is required ·        A formal acceptance of resignation is issued confirming any special conditions ·        An exit interview takes place ·     ...

3 things to do BEFORE you sign your new employment contract 1.        Consider additional costs you might incur so that you know what take home pay is the basis for negotiation ·          Benefits you might be losing eg Canteen ·          Distance from home o     Higher transport costs o     Additional child care costs for earlier drop off/later collection 2.        Ask to see a copy of a payslip ·          Most companies will be happy to do this to ensure there is a clear understanding of take home pay ·          The time to negotiate your new salary is before the contract is drawn up.   Backwards and forwards paperwork and mail is time wasting and annoying.   It starts the relationship off on the wr...

or sign a new contract… 1.         Confirm your notice period ·          A lot of companies allow 30 days from date of resignation, but many ask for a calendar month 2.        Check your restraints ·          If you are joining a competitor ·          If you are joining a client 3.        Find out when your last payment will be transferred ·          Companies have been burned by paying over on the 25 th , and people not returning, so they may delay payment transfer until the last official working day, or even the first day of the following month.  You may need to make special arrangements regarding debit orders …. Both your current company and your new one deserve to be fairly treated.   Knowledge of ...

William Shakespeare said that "Parting is such sweet sorrow", and Sheryl Sandberg said "don't leave until you leave."   And for me it comes down to that jet stream again, do you want it to be a beautiful memory, to fade quickly or to leave a stain? As important as the first day is for companies to get right, with effective inductions and warm receptions, that last month post resignation, is when the employee becomes re employable, or a bad penny! Whether your resignation is a surprise to the company or not, make sure you know all the conditions of termination before you resign, or commit to your new company. Some items that can create a issues around your departure are Resignation period Calendar month or 30 days Training investment Do you have to pay it back Loans Will your final pay cheque cover all outstanding amounts Holiday Leave in your last month that you have already booked Many companies do not allow leave in your final month, and...

The exit interview is not the time to tell your manager that you would have stayed if.....   When you are serious about your career, and really enjoy your job, except for one key component, take the time to talk before you resign. While sometimes the grass is greener, more often than not you just inherit new issues at a new company. It is a difficult labour market in South Africa right now, there is a skills shortage, and yet there are millions of people without jobs.   Working for a stable company, with people you like, and a job you enjoy is important, and yet there are often those frustrations that give you itchy feet. In your current position, your manager might really want to keep you, and be very interested in finding out what would make you a happier, more productive, employee.   It is also sometimes much easier to have that conversation with somebody you already know, than have it in your first weeks in a new position. When you know you have choices, as we...